82nd Airborne Takes Over Operations in Bayji

Defend America News ^ | Capt. Amy A. Bishop

[SandRat]

U.S. Army Capt. Tim Peterman, commander, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, (center), talks with a local farmer about security in the city of Bayji, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Amy A. Bishop
82nd Airborne Takes Over Operations in Bayji
Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division officially took command and control of Forward Operating Base Summerall from the 101st Airborne Division Rakkasans.
By U.S. Army Capt. Amy A. Bishop 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment BAYJI, Iraq, Sept. 18, 2006 -- The torch has been passed in the city of Bayji as paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division took control of the area from soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division. Paratroopers from 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division officially took command and control of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Summerall from the Rakkasans of the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division to continue current operations in the Bayji area. As the troopers arrived, the 1/187th Infantry Regiment passed on their wealth of knowledge by leading the troopers on patrols and giving classes on such things as improvised explosive device detection and reaction, reaction to contact with the enemy, and live fire exercises to prepare them for their upcoming year. The city of Bayji provides a great deal of electrical power to the city of Baghdad and northern Iraq. It also has an oil refinery and pipeline that is crucial to the success of Iraq’s new economy. The battalion’s primary mission is to assist Iraqi Security Forces in protecting these assets, but they have a number of other responsibilities as well. Over the course of the year, troopers will be working with Iraqi army soldiers from the Iraqi army base K2, which is co-located with FOB Summerall, to ensure that they are prepared to take over security responsibilities in the area. Other missions include assisting local government officials in project planning, facilitating reconstruction efforts and overseeing infrastructure projects. The will also work with the Police Transition Team to ensure the success of the local police department. “This is a very pivotal time in the entire war in Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Scott Harris, Commander of the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment.	U.S. Army 1st Lt. James L. Leister, a platoon leader for B Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division has an initial interview with a security manager at the Bayji Oil Refinery. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Amy A. Bishop “We are at the point now where the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police, the total Iraqi Security Forces, are really beginning to build up. They have done a lot of training, they are equipped, so my focus over the next year is working on being able to get the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police out front so that they can become a legitimate force in the eyes of the Iraqi citizen.” As the soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division fly home, the troopers of the 82nd Airborne Division get settled in for the long road ahead, but say they are ready for the challenge. “We are excited to be here,” said Harris. “My troopers have trained for this for the past year. We look forward to helping the people in this area out and hope to make a difference.

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

[Marine_Uncle]

"This is a very pivotal time in the entire war in Iraq,” said Lt. Col. Scott Harris, Commander of the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment."
It surely is. They must now as their forces can start to control the insurgency and keep civil order in general, also turn their heads to the future prospects of building a vibrant industrial nation. They can do it with the proper help from abroad and the will of the Iraqi people.
When multiple millions of Iraq see that they have more cheap gas, keroseen, bottled gas, low cost electricity 24/7/360, they will further be infuriated by any death squad radical goons who dare stop a bright future from being established.
And surely this was all on the POTUS's mind as well as his advisory committees and think tank contributors for taking a chance of freeing Iraq from the Butcher of Baghdad.

[Parley Baer]

Well that's just it. The Iraqi Army and Police force have grown tremendously and are getting better all the time. That means we will need less forces there as time goes by. Of course the dimocRATS don't want to hear this.

[SandRat]

DANG FREEREPUBLIC AND THAT POSTER SANDRAT!!!!!!



America might just learn the Truth.

[RedRover]

John Murtha would be none too pleased with you!

Cheers, Rat, and thanks for the posts.

[Allegra]

You're posting positive news about Iraq again.

You're going to get into trouble for that. ;-)